Pulverizer with caster roller assembly

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for pulverizing material into comminuted particles in which at least three rollers are mounted for rotation and maintained in contact with the material on a grinding ring. The rollers are suspended in a manner to allow the rollers to swivel about respective vertical axes perpendicular to their respective axes of rotation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for pulverizing material including hard material into comminuted particles comprising a housing, a rotatable table mounted within said housing, a grinding ring mounted on said table and defining a circumferential path on said table, means for rotating said table, means for introducing said material into said housing in contact with said grinding ring, at least three rollers disposed in said housing, means for mounting said rollers in said housing for rotation about respective axes of rotation, said mounting means including a supporting ring disposed above said roller, a plurality of brackets, each of said rollers being mounted on a respective one of said brackets, and a plurality of shafts, each one of said shafts being connected between said ring and a respective one of said brackets and defining a swivel axis lying forward of the axis of rotation of its respective roller, and means for absorbing a shock load applied to said roller disposed between said brackets and said mounting ring and adapted to allow said rollers to move about said respective swivel axes. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus for pulverizing material according to claim 1 wherein said means for absorbing said shock load comprises a pad attached to the underside of said supporting ring. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus for pulverizing material according to claim 1 wherein said means for absorbing said shock lead comprises pads attached to the tops of said brackets. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for pulverizing material according to claim 1 in which said means for absorbing said shock load comprises a pad attached to the underside of said supporting ring, and pads attached to the tops of said brackets. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for pulverizing material according to claim 1 further including an upper spring ring centrally disposed within said housing and positioned above said supporting ring, a plurality of springs disposed between said upper spring ring and said supporting ring, and means for applying a downward load to said upper spring ring. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for pulverizing material according to claim 1 in which said axes of rotation are horizontal and said swivel axes are vertical. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for pulverizing material according to claim 6 in which means are provided for restricting the vertical and horizontal movement of said lower spring ring. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus for pulverizing material according to claim 7 in which means are provided for restricting the rotational movement of said upper spring ring.